Beyoncé: Safe or risky Super Bowl halftime choice?

Her selection marks a turn away from the classic-rock acts that have dominated many recent half-time shows for the big game

This Oct. 23, 2012 publicity photo provided by Pepsi shows Beyonce during a Pepsi Print photo shoot at Canoe Studios in New York. This image will appear as life-size standees in stores starting first quarter 2013, as an extension of the brand’s “Live For Now” campaign. Through a photo contest, 100 fans will join Beyonce onstage during the singer’s halftime show performance at the 2013 Super Bowl on Feb. 3, 2013, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Pepsi, Patrick Demarchelier)
— AP

This Oct. 23, 2012 publicity photo provided by Pepsi shows Beyonce during a Pepsi Print photo shoot at Canoe Studios in New York. This image will appear as life-size standees in stores starting first quarter 2013, as an extension of the brand’s “Live For Now” campaign. Through a photo contest, 100 fans will join Beyonce onstage during the singer’s halftime show performance at the 2013 Super Bowl on Feb. 3, 2013, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Pepsi, Patrick Demarchelier)
/ AP

Is Beyoncé a good choice to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show? We'll find out on Feb. 3.

In the meanwhile, tell us what you think. Does Beyoncé have the goods? Will she make everyone for get about Madonna and Janet Jackson, the only two women artists to headline or co-headline a Super Bowl halftime show in the past 8 years?

Tell us what you think in the Comments section below.

It's confirmed: Beyoncé will perform next year during the halftime show at the Super Bowl XLVII. The big game, and her performance, will take place Feb. 3 at the Super Dome in New Orleans. Expect "Crazy in Love" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" to echo through the Super Dome, accompanied by lots of energetic dancing and, perhaps, a new Super Bowl record for costume changes.

This marks the first time a young female pop-muic artist has been chosen by the NFL to headline the Super Bowl halftime extravaganza since Janet Jackson's infamous, breast-baring duet with Justin Timberlake in 2004.

The ensuing uproar -- which was dubbed "Nipplegate" by some observers and made "wardrobe malfunction" a part of our vocabulary -- resulted in a $550,000 fine against CBS TV for violating "decency' programming rules. Jackson was being branded a pariah and her career has never really recovered. Timberlake, her bodice-ripping co-conspirator, walked away unscathed after meekly offering an apology for his involvement.

Since then, only one woman has headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, namely, Madonna at this year's big game. Fergie was part of last year's halftime show, but as a member of Black Eyed Peas, not as a solo artist. The 2003 Super Bowl, which was held at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium, featured halftime show performances by Shania Twain and the Gwen Stefani-led No Doubt, both of which took place without incident.

During the years in between Jackson and Madonna, the NFL stuck to classic-rock icons unlikely to have any kind of wardrobe malfunction, including The Who, U2, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band and Prince, whose heyday of creating "Controversy" (to invoke one of his classic early songs) is long past.

The only controversy when Madonna performed came when one of her guest stars, rapper M.I.A., flipped viewers the bird. The NFL responded by issuing a statement that read: “The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans.”

Beyoncé, coincidentally, sang the National Anthem at the 2004 Super Bowl (yes, the same Super Bowl that saw Jackson and Timberlake's well-rehearsed "wardrobe malfunction" create such a big uproar).

Because she represents elegance and good taste in a pop-music world in which both qualities are increasingly rare, 16-time Grammy Award-winner Beyoncé is unlikely to ruffle too many feathers. Should she be joined on stage by her famous husband, superstar rapper Jay-Z, for a duet of his hit "Young Forever," it would mark an all-too-rare incursion of hip-hop onto the Super Bowl halftime show stage.

The choice of Beyoncé, who (at least in theory) could use the event to stage a brief Destiny's Child reunion) suggests that -- after years of playing it safe -- the NFL wants to attract a younger audience. In selecting the 31-year-old Beyoncé, who is contemporary and sexy, but not too edgy or risque, the league may finally be getting it right. What do you think?